| Fossil range | Middle Eocene |
|---|---|
| Parent authority | Flerov, 1952 |
| Taxon | Gobiatherium |
| Authority | Osborn & Granger, 1932 |
| Subdivision ranks | Species |
| Subdivision |
|
Gobiatherium (from Gobi Desert, and Ancient Greek θηρίον (thēríon), meaning "beast") was one of the last uintatheriids, from the Mid Eocene of Mongolia.[1]
Description
Unlike its North American cousins, Uintatherium or Eobasileus, Gobiatherium lacked knob-like horns, or even fang-like tusks. Instead, it had enlarged cheekbones and an almost spherical snout. The dental formula of the genus is . The lower incisors were bilobed, and the genus lacks upper canines all together.[2] The lower canines are reduced, and the lower jaw is shallow.[3][4][5][6]
Classification
Because of the noticeable lack of many diagnostic uintathere features, the genus is placed within its own subfamily, Gobiatheriinae, within Uintatheriidae.[2][4][6] Historically, Gobiatherium was grouped within its own family, Gobiatheriidae, alongside Uintatheriidae and Prodinoceratiidae, though this is not supported.[6]
References
- ^ "Mindat.org". www.mindat.org. Retrieved 2026-01-05.
- ^ Granger, Walter & Osborn, Henry Fairfield. "Coryphodonts and uintatheres from the Mongolian Expedition of 1930. American Museum novitates ; no. 552". Biodiversity Heritage Library. Retrieved 2026-01-05.
- ^ Lucas, Spencer G. (2001-02-01). "Gobiatherium (Mammalia: Dinocerata) from the Middle Eocene of Asia: Taxonomy and biochronological significance". Paläontologische Zeitschrift. 74 (4): 591–600. doi:10.1007/BF02988166
- ^ Shoch, Robert M. & Lucas, Spencer G. "The phylogeny and classification of the Dinocerata (Mammalia, Eutheria)". Bulletin of the Geological Institutions of the University of Uppsala. 11: 31-58.
- ^ The new mammalian materials from the Eocene of Liguanqiao Basin. 1990.
- ^ Wheeler, Walter (1961-01-01). "Revision of the uintatheres". Bulletin of the Peabody Museum of Natural History. ' (14)